1887, September Southern States Conference

An incident from Amy’s account of the September 1887 Southern States conference interested me. I didn’t have a copy of that part of the John Morgan journal so I returned to the Marriott Library to look further. See paragraphs five and six posted here at The Ancestor Files.

From the John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah:
1887
September 11 [Meridian, Mississippi, after leaving Colorado, September 6.]
Met the Elders in council again this a.m. Attended Sunday School at 10 a.m. the pupils recited 126 verses of Scripture by memory and repeated the Articles of Faith in concert. Conference convened at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. meetings were well attended, and a good spirit prevailed. Stayed at Thomas Odums tonight.
September 12-13 President Morgan traveled to Rome, then Chattanooga, where he … met A. R. Smith who has charge of the office. Spent the p.m. in reading papers, letters, etc. … He worked in the office through the 15th getting correspondence into shape and trying to get the run of mission matters. On the 15th took the train to Tuscombia, then on to Florence, Alabama, for the West Tennessee Conference.

September 16... Left for Cowpens Creek to meet the Elders. … Attended to prayer and held council with the Elders. On the 17th ... Held council this a.m. and met in a conference capacity at 11 a.m. …

September 18
Met the Elders in Council and at 11 a.m. met in Conference at Ilutts School House. An evil spirit was manifest from the start and culminated before the meeting closed in an attack by one (?) Gilbert who with an oath caught up a crutch and tried to strike me as I was talking to the people. Elders Elias I. Wright and Asabel [sic, Asahel] Fuller caught him and prevented any serious damage being done. A general [There is neither a space, nor a word, in the transcript here.] seemed imminent and one woman fainted, others screamed and the meeting was broken up. The Elders all went down on Cowpers [sic, Cowpens] Creek and held council and had dinner with the McMurtryes after which I bade them goodbye and started for Florence, arriving at 8 p.m.
The following is from pages 31-32 of a document (typed transcript like the John Morgan Journal transcript) in the John Morgan Collection titled: Southern States Mission History, From October 1875 to December 1904.

1887, September
The month opened very quietly, the Elders moving cautiously to avoid undue excitement among the masses. Reports from the respective Conferences are all in, showing a very gratifying increase in the number of baptisms during the corresponding time last year, in fact, it was the best received for some considerable length of time.

On the 10th and 11th insts. The Mississippi Conference convened at the house of brother Pleasant Odums. President Morgan was in attendance; also six (6) Elders belonging to the Conference. Meetings were held each day, including councils, in which the Elders expressed their views relative to their labors and received some timely counsel and advice on matters pertaining to their immediate duties.

Everything passed off peaceably and quietly; all enjoying themselves in their meeting together. On the 17th and 18th insts. The West Tennessee Conference was held near St. Joseph, Lawrence County. President Morgan was also in attendance here; and also all the Elders belonging to that Conference, numbering seven (7). The meetings on Saturday were well attended and the various speakers touched upon a few of the first principles of the Gospel. All passed off very pleasantly.

On Sunday, meeting was again held, but not with such good results. After two or three of the Elders had spoken, President Morgan arose and addressed the congregation. While speaking, a fellow, by name, Gilbert, arose and seizing a crutch endeavored to strike him, using some vile language in the meanwhile. Owing to the position he was in, Gilbert could not use his stick to any great advantage, and through the force of the blow, being broken, President Morgan caught the stick in one hand very easily. It was wrenched from him, and after making other fruitless attempts to reach the object of his attack, he withdrew, as did also the crowd of roughs who were with him. This circumstance broke up the meeting and no more was held.
From an alphabetized list of Southern States' missionaries; name, set apart date, date returned, from John Morgan collection.
Albert R. Smith. February 13, 1887 - March 8, 1889
Asahel Luther Fuller. February 14, 1887 - November 24, 1889
Elias Smith Wright, September 10, 1886 - November 12, 1888
I took the picture at Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, September, 2008.

1938 Christmas letter identified.

This Christmas note has been unidentified among my mother's things for years. It appears [Aunt] Helen Melvina [Mellie] Morgan Burt Austin [1870-1952, John Hamilton Morgan's oldest daughter] wrote this Christmas note to her brother-in-law, Percy Harold Rex, in 1938. It is a note of condolence, and Christmas wishes, after the November 12th passing of her sister, Bessie Morgan Rex.

Other people mentioned in this note are Percy Harold and Bessie Morgan Rex's sons Harold and Morgan. Jack [John Clayton] and Gail [Morgan Clayton] are her brother-in-law and sister. Wallace [Burt] is probably Aunt Helen's son. Is Sara a daughter-in-law or daughter? Does anyone know who Georgia is?

From Helen Rex Frazier collection.

1937 Christmas letter from Bessie Morgan Rex to her son, Harold Morgan Rex, in the mission field, Brazil.

Percy Harold and Bessie Morgan Rex family members in Randolph, Utah about 1937, left to right; are John Morgan, Bessie, Percy, Helen, in front, Flora Elizabeth and Maeser Morgan.

This letter of December 19, 1937 was written by Bessie Morgan Rex to her son, Harold, while he was serving a mission in Brazil.

This copy of this letter is in my possession. Originally from Harold Morgan Rex family.

Frazier: #4 Frank Union Frazier, 1947 journal entries concluded.

Concluding excerpts from Frank. U. Frazier, Woodruff Utah, 1947 Journal. [I retained his spelling, capitalization, and punctuation (he frequently leaves the final “t” off of thought, bought, etc.)]

Continued from previous journal entries here.

Sun., Nov 2--Emily, Tom, Claira, I went up to Evanston to Conference. Emily did fine with her part. We got the battery for the radio. Francis brough it.

Mon., Nov 3--We started to plow over creek this Morning. Plowed quit a piece. Sold 5 crossbread Rom Lambs to Kearl Brothers Laketown Utah for $200.00. Emily, Elmer, Verla went to Barbara weden dance to night. I was two tired.

Sat., Nov 8--I Killed ten old hens this Morning and Elmer and I sheared the Ewes that we are sending to heard- Emily, Verla put the hens in the bottles 15. Charley Smith died to day. “Very fine old Man” snowing to day and night.

Tues., Nov 11--Emily, I took the Putnams to Salt Lake for May Putnam Holbrock funeral. It was sure a Hell of a day going snowed all down canyon just got in line.

Fri., Nov 14--Elmer & I went to Evanston and traded our car on a NEW ONE. We got $840 and paid $1076.50 difference. “Plymouth” It snowed to day. We had dinner with Delora.

Thurs., Nov 27--We all had a fine dinner Bruce, Delora, Frankie, Mark, Serlay, Elmer, Verla, Brent, Stephen Kay, Brenda Dee, Emily, Frank U … Very good time togather.

Tues., Dec 9--Elmer, Brent, I went to Almy after wood with Ray Cox’s truck, got a dandy load- going to Mutual tonight.

Thurs., Dec 4--Every body was sure busy on the ranch to day. Electric line men, 4 of them. The ones that is putting it in the houses- 3 – and we cut the sheep out to shear eyes- to take them to dogholler- Elmer and Vern Hopkins tied in the Election.

Sat., Dec 6--We done some work on Bull shed. Aunt Maud, Delora, Mark, come down and had supper with us- Verla, Elmer, Brent went out to Marry, Harvey to a beef steak supper. June calved- a bull calf. Keith Putnam bought the two bull calves.

Tue., Dec 23--We turned the lights on to night. They are sure swell. Can see any wheere in the chichen. Got them in chicken coop also-

Thurs., Dec 25--Little Steve got a rocking horse, Brent a train, Brendy Dee dolls. We all went up to Bruce & Dee and had dinner, also went the rounds down the lane, got home in good time, didn’t get to call up Glenn could not get through.

Tues., Dec 30--Shelby, Fred, Marrioners, Francis, I went to Brigham City to a Land Management Meeting, had a sweel time and good luck. The folks went up to the show, took Aunt Annie, children.
Christmas card is from Grandmother Bessie Morgan Rex's scrapbook, from the 1930's.

Sanborn: #8 George Benjamin Sanborn and #9 Sarah Jane Smith. Part 4 of 4.

George Benjamin Sanborn, on the left, 1935, after retiring from the Union Pacific Railroad, at the time he was working for the Salt Lake City Streets Department.

Daughter Mary Ann Sanborn was married in 1904 to George Francis Hovey. And daughter Ella married John Kellerher in1910. Son Jennings married Iona Cushing. Bill married his sister Sarah’s widowed niece, Mary Schilling. They had a daughter known as “little Mary.” Joseph traveled to the Philippines. He married and settled there. In 1932 he returned home for a visit.

After retirement from the railroad, George Benjamin went to work for the Salt lake City Streets Department, where he swept streets. He was ninety-one years old when he died on November 7, 1936. He was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.

At that time Sarah Jane moved to Washington and lived with her daughter, Mary Ann. When she was eighty-four she returned to Salt Lake City to visit her son and daughter-in-law, George Benjamin and Amy Haywood Sanborn. Sarah Jane passed away in their care on January 15, 1940. She too was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery, beside her husband, and sons, John and Henry.

It appears the family never placed a marker on their mother/grandmother's grave. We are going to do that in the Spring. All interested in contributing are invited to contact me at my e-mail address on this blog.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

From Marlene Sanborn Silotti histories. I took the picture in the Ogden Cemetery this year.

Sanborn: #8 George Benjamin Sanborn and Sarah Jane Smith. Part 3 of 4

View Sanborns, George Benjamin and Sarah Jane homes in a larger map

Seven additional children were born to George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn after they moved from Paradise, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1885.

Eva, March 15, 1885 (died from pneumonia, November 14, 1885). Mary Ann, 1886. Henry, 1888. John William, 1890. Ella, 1892. Gladise, 1894 (died after being ill for four months, October 28, 1895). Jennings Bryan, 1896.

Their first year in Salt Lake City they lived at 549 Post Street. In 1896 they moved to 520 South 8th West, where they lived until their move to Pocatello, Idaho in 1903.

In 1895 George Benjamin began working for the D. & R. G. (Denver and Rio Grande) Railroad as a machinist. Five years later he was working as a blacksmith at the Fort Douglas Shops, and in 1893 he was working for the Union Pacific Railroad as a blacksmith.

According to his granddaughter, Marlene Sanborn Silotti, George Benjamin worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 36 years. In 1903 his sons began appearing in the Polk Directories, also working for the railroad; George B., Jr., Joseph, William, Henry, John and Jennings.

Marlene traced the family through their ward records, and every other record she had access to. In 1885 they moved into the 6th Ward in Salt Lake City, which became the 25th ward in 1902. George Benjamin was listed as an Elder there. They moved to the Pocatello, Idaho 1st Ward in 1903. In 1909 the family moved to Ogden, Utah where they resided in the Ogden 2nd Ward. And in 1913 the family moved back to Salt Lake City. All of the children were blessed, baptized, and confirmed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Their oldest daughter, Sarah Jane, married William Mikesell in 1895. George Benjamin Jr., married Amy LaVena Haywood on June 23, 1898. And the following February 1, 1899, Amy’s brother, George Mark Haywood , married daughter Laura Ellen Sanborn. Two younger sons, Henry and John William were both baptized three days later, on February 4, 1899. John was baptized by Hyrum Groesbeck. [An unexpected early tie.]

John married Henrietta Gall in 1911. They remained in Ogden, after his parents moved back to Salt Lake City. He was still living there in 1914, when he contracted pneumonia and died. He is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.

The following year, in 1915, George and his sons were playing poker together in their Salt Lake home. “Henry suddenly threw down his cards and without saying a word walked out of the room. Suddenly there was a terrible scream and they found Henry on the back screened-porch. He had drank carbolic acid.” Henry had been discouraged and separated from his wife. His death was called a suicide. Nearly a hundred years later, drinking carbolic acid sounds more like an accident to me. What kind of a bottle was the acid stored in? Could it have looked like a liquor bottle, or anything else?

John Sanborn (1890-1914) and Henry Sanborn (1888-1915) are buried in the Ogden City Cemetery. (Picture taken October, 2009)

In 1924 George and Sarah Jane moved to Winnemucca, Nevada. Sarah received her Patriarchal Blessing while they lived there. Five years later George retired from the railroad, and they moved back to Salt Lake City. They bought a home at 349 Bothwell Court, and lived in the 25th Ward.

(To be continued.)

Family history from Marlene Sanborn Silotti.

Sanborn: #8 George Benjamin and #9 Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn. Part 1 of 4.

George Benjamin Sanborn
b. 10 Aug 1845, Brooklin, Maine
p. Isaac Sanborn, Sarah Cobb
m. Sarah Jane Smith, 16 Nov 1874, Endowment House
d. 7 Nov 1936, Salt Lake City, Ut
b. Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Utah

Sarah Jane Smith
b. 1 Apr 1856, Keokuck, Lee, Iowa
p. William Smith, Jane Rawlings
d. 15 Jan 1940, Salt Lake City, Utah
b. Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Utah

Sarah Jane was born in Keokuck, Iowa on route to the Salt Lake Valley, with her parents and three older brothers. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on August 14, 1856.

By 1860 her family was settled in Paradise, Utah, having first lived in Draper, Utah. Her family’s history is posted here.

They washed and corded wool, spun yarn, knit stockings, and spun the yarn for their family’s clothing. Sarah was too small to reach the wheel so her father made a bench for her to walk on while she worked. Her mother dyed the yarn for the children’s stockings. The dye was made from indigo and chamber lye. “They knit comforters for the men and boys and also for the quilts.”

“They were happy in those days.” Saturday night dances were held every week and entrance tickets were purchased with squash, potatoes, cabbage and other products. One man had a checkered shirt he saved for the dance by wearing a shirt made out of a gunny-sack to work in during the week.

The first hat Sarah Jane ever made was from some straw she and her sister gleaned—it was white leghorn.

“When they started raising sheep and stock, the girls [Sarah had four sisters] sheered as many as twenty-eight head of sheep in one day.”

When their father would bring the corn in, and they wanted cornmeal, they would take a tin pan and hammer holes in the bottom of it, then use that as a grater and rub the corn on it. For three years Sarah Jane never had shoes on her feet. She tied rags on them to save them from being cut by rocks. She gathered rose leaves for her mother’s tea, which she made after the leaves were dried.

In 1875 Sarah Jane married George B. Sanborn in the old Endowment house. “We came all the way from Paradise by horse and wagon. That was seventy years ago last November. We had twelve children; six sons and six daughters. Four sons and two daughters are living and married. Two of my sons are living in Salt Lake. Two sons have been in the World War; one served eighteen months in France, the other served two terms as coast guard and is now in Honolulu working for the Government Air-Line. One of my daughters lives in Washington. I haven’t seen her for 22 years and she is coming in April to see us.”

Record of Ward Members to 1940 in Paradise Ward, lists George Benjamin Sanborn as being baptized, 21 February 1864. Where, or by whom, is not indicated.

(To be continued.)

DUP History, Sarah Jane Smith, A Utah Pioneer of 1856, submitted 1936 by Dau. Fla Barton. Family History records and picture belonging to Marlene Sanborn Silotti. This picture was sent to Marlene by an unknown man she met at the Family History Library many years ago. When the man saw the family name marlene was researching, he said he had a picture of her grandparents standing on the back porch of their home in Ogden that he would mail to her. He and his family lived next door to George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn.

Mid-century dancers identified!

Thanks to a friend in Woodruff, Utah, I’ve identified the 1950 tap dancers posted here earlier. They are, left to right; Nina Rex, Rose Dean, JaNae Hellstrom, Dick Stuart, Kathy Rufi, Nanette Stuart, and Bessie Frazier.

From The First 100 Years in Woodruff, Art City Publishing Co., 1972, I learned that Dick and Nanette Stuart are cousins. I am cousins with Nina Rex (g-grandfather, William Rex), Rose Dean (g-grandfather, Stephen Vestal Frazier), and Kathy Rufi (g-grandfathers, William Rex and Jacob Rufi). I appreciate all who helped identify these mid-century dancers!

Bessie Morgan Rex, DUP, Daughter of Utah Pioneer, 1935.

This picture of Bessie Morgan Rex [1891-1938] belonged to her granddaughter, Susan Frazier, and hung in her Bethesda, Maryland home. Susan outbid her cousins at the 1998 Rex Family Reunion auction, and took it home. It is granddaughter Susan B.'s creation. She had a small 5x7 shot enlarged, tinted, fixed, and framed. Then she donated it to the auction. This picture was taken about the time of grandmother Bessie's marriage to grandfather Percy Harold Rex (1912]. She is probably wearing her wedding dress.

Bessie's application for membership in the Society for Daughters of the Utah Pioneers is written her hand. It includes all kinds of information, familiar Randolph, Utah names, and a bit of information about her father, John Morgan, I'd never heard of before.

I do apologize for the bits and pieces of this document (which is in my possession). My scanner could not accommodate the large sheet. Picture from my collection.

The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States

After reading The Amateur Mormon Historian’s December 1st post, The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States, I couldn’t resist. "Sister Victoria Faucett was unanimously sustained as president, Sisters Sinia Lawrence and Emmeline Faucett, her counselors. Sister Joan Manning, secretary; all of whom were elected for six months." It was organized August 10th, 1878. I have a copy of that portion of the John Morgan Journal at home, so I looked up the date.

1878
August 10Conference met at 10 a.m. Attendance improved. The branch from a distance well represented. Held three meetings including a priesthood meeting.

August 11Conference met at 10 a.m. with a good attendance of saints and few strangers. Our meeting was interrupted by a slight shower. Conference adjourned at 9 p.m. after a good time and a general good feeling on the part of the saints. [“Wrote Deseret News” is written after this entry, by Nicholas G. Morgan (is my guess).]

I spent a little time studying the early part of John Morgan's journal looking for the sisters that President Morgan called to The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States.

From the John Morgan JournalCassandra [Georgia] 1877
September 10thWrote letters during the forenoon, in the afternoon went up to Mr. Bailey’s and stayed all night.

11th—Started out early in the morning to look up a place to baptize in. Mr. Bailey accompanying me. Selected a spot and went down to Bart Fawcett’s, from there to Mr. Parrs’. Had dinner, returned to Mr. B. and assisted to fix a baptizing place. At night had meeting and preached a long sermon to a good sized audience. Stayed all night at Bart Fawcett’s.

12th—Went up to Mr. Bailey’s and in the afternoon baptized the following persons:
Mrs. Martha Bailey Sr.
Mrs. Martha Bailey, Jr.
Mrs. Jane Payne
Mrs. Millissa Jennings
Miss Emma Fawcett
Miss Victoria Bailey
Stayed all night at Mr. Kerke’s.

Haywood Valley [Georgia] 1877

October 16th—Went to Uncle Jeter’s where we remained part of the day and stayed all night at Bro. Marshalls’. Uncle Jeter came over and informed us that he had some folks to baptize the next morning.

17th—Went over to the baptizing place and baptized the following persons:
B.F. Marshall [,] Confirmed by Elder L. [probably Lisonbee]
Jas. Keele “ [Confirmed by Elder] J. M. [John Morgan]
Sinai Lawrence “ [Confirmed by Elder] L.
Elizabeth Keele “ [Confirmed by Elder] L.

After dinner we went across the Mountain to Bro. Moyer's where we stayed all night.

John Morgan journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Picture from John Morgan descendant Geraldine M.'s visit to Haywood Valley, Georgia, 2008.

B. H. Roberts speaks at Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan’s funeral, 1930, 2 of 2.

[B. H. Roberts continues funeral address:] Now, in relation to Sister Morgan: You have already been told how Sister Morgan comes of an honored, pioneer family. I remember her father, Nicholas Groesbeck, and I remember his wife, Sister Morgan’s mother. She was a quiet, calm, dignified, splendid pioneer queen—no less! And possessed all of those qualities that I have spoken of in regard to Sister Morgan, the daughter. Her heart was ever open, and her hand ever free to give and help those who came in contact with her. They were a splendid Utah pioneer family of the old stock, and honorable, this Groesbeck family; and not only that, but they were alive to the situation as it arose before them. Nicholas Groesbeck laid the foundation for a great financial career and successful business life. No man outstripped him in that; and he struggled with pioneer conditions and circumstances and overcame them. No man possessed greater character than Nicholas Groesbeck. I know him historically as well as personally, and that is my testimony in relation to him.

As for John Morgan—a Prince! A Prince he was. He was like some of the under-ground springs that flow in the earth, and then by and by they crop up to carry out the purposes of God—that was John Morgan. A Prince in the spirit world and princely here.

John Morgan communicated that wonderful spirit that he was possessed of to many. There are hundreds and hundreds of eminent and successful men in Utah today who owe John Morgan a debt of gratitude for what he conferred upon them through his wonderful influence and through his school; and as President of the Southern States Mission. The numbers who were benefited by his influence are unknown, but they go into the hundreds and perhaps the thousands. He made a mighty contribution to the world in his capacity of leadership. And standing by his side, and ever ready to lend a helping hand, was his queen—that honest, direct, frank, lovely wife of wonderful nature—Sister Morgan. That’s how I regard her. As I looked upon her beautiful, refined face this day, clutched by the hand of death—not even death could mar that face, but gave it a new beauty—she was wonderful to me. That was my thought as I looked upon her and it is true.

We have assurance of the life eternal; we are converted to it. You can’t make me believe that God is so unreasonable that he will bring forth such people as Sister Morgan and then destroy them. He doesn’t go to such pains to produce such characters a these—to refine, to elevate, to purify them and then destroy them. He may permit them to suffer, but destroy them—I would as soon expect him to destroy himself. Such people as Brother and Sister Morgan are the kings and queens of God and of the universe.

Now, may God bless this family, everyone of them. I feel, if circumstances and conditions would warrant it, I would like to place my hands upon the heads of these dear sons and daughter and bless them in the name of God, and in commemoration of their noble father. May the Lord bless them and lead them on to ever hold sacred the life of their dear parents, and to emulate their examples, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

See references at Part 1.